Jagat writes to CM on stand to suspend rice supply to Tamenglong
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 14 2011: Taking serious note of the CAF & PD Department's stand not to allot any rice to Tamenglong for the district administration's failure to clear pending dues incurred last year, Governor Gurbachan Jagat has asked Chief Minister O Ibobi if certain amounts were misappropriated by some people.

For 51 metric tonnes of rice allotted to Tamenglong district during the prolonged blockade last year, the district administration paid Rs 25 lakhs to CAF&PD Department but another Rs 17 lakhs has not been paid yet.

Taking serious note of the CAF&PD Department's reluctance to allot any rice to Tamenglong district this time because of the pending dues, the Governor enquired about the matter to the Chief Minister.

In a letter written to the Chief Minister on October 6, the Governor asked if the rice allotted last year was sold off by some people and the amount thus earned swindled.

Pointing out that the amount earned from selling PDS rice was public money, the Governor asked the Chief Minister to take up necessary action.

Acting on the Governor's letter, the Chief Minister has asked relevant officials to initiate necessary action, says a report.

The Governor categorically stated that an enquiry be conducted into the case of non-payment of money for the rice allotted to Tamenglong district last year, and take up punitive action against all the officials found guilty, even to the extent of terminating them from service.

Meanwhile, huge quantities of potato and onion procured by the CAF &PD Department at Rs 47,88,250 for distribution to the public at subsidised rates have rotted.

Dals have also gone stale.

Officials of the department bought these commodities from Silchar on October 3 and sent them to Imphal in 11 trucks.

However, one truck carrying dal (Masoor) and onion was set ablaze by blockade supporters on the way before it could reach Imphal.

Out of these commodities, more than half of the onions and potatoes have rotted.

It is reported that monetary values of the decayed commodities are being calculated.

As the bags containing dal have leakages and holes, the dals have also starting decaying.

The department's offer to sell these commodities to wholesalers was also rejected by the traders.

The goods brought by the 11 trucks were 24 metric tonnes of Mater (Mangal), 30 metric tonnes of Mater dal, 31 metric tonnes of Masur dal, 22.750 metric tonnes of Arhar dal, 18 metric tonnes of onion and 12 metric tonnes of potato.

The department once distributed potato, dal and onion to the public at subsidised rates whereas it sanctioned Rs 93 lakhs for procuring them.

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